Two hands, covering the face, began to rub it vigorously. Of course, that wasn't going to bring back his scattered thoughts. Cha Eui-jae, disheveled and frazzled, stared blankly into space. He never realized how wild people's imaginations could be. A single photograph had inflated into countless rumors spreading like wildfire.
Cha Eui-jae recalled a YouTube video he had seen recently with 534 views. The screen was black, with red, yellow, and white text flashing across it. It said that modern people, after experiencing the Day of the Rift and the Day of Change, tend to seek more intense stimulation as a form of escapism— so-called dopamine deficiency. Cha Eui-jae became slightly more serious.
'Damn… I guess everyone's low on dopamine.'
Was everyone chasing excitement because they were exhausted from their harsh lives? Even if that were the case, could this really be acceptable? Do the media these days have no sense of ethics?
'What was Seo Min-gi doing?'
His frustration sparked against Seo Min-gi, his go-to problem solver. But being the thorough workaholic he was, Seo Min-gi had already dug himself an escape route. Cha Eui-jae picked up his phone and reread the message.
Seo Min-gi: Just for your information, I've cleaned up all the nearby CCTV footage. There was no sign of anyone around until you both got into the van. Seems like the work of an informant.
This message had arrived even before Cha Eui-jae could ask for an explanation. Summed up in a single line, it meant;
Not my fault.
Cha Eui-jae responded with a text, wearing an annoyed expression.
[Yes, understood. Please gather and deliver any information related to the informant. Thank you.]
But what he really meant was;
Give me some dirt on whoever the hell it is so I can crush them. Thanks.
Cha Eui-jae trudged over to the floor-to-ceiling windows that lined one wall. As he roughly tidied his tousled hair in the reflection, the article's comment section kept floating through his mind.
J beat him up, locked him away somewhere, put him in his place, sorted out the hierarchy, fought for three months— those sensationalist claims were relatively mild. The real problem was…
—The phrase 'intimate relationship' is risky.
—So, did they have a lover's quarrel and J won?
These reactions.
Compared to the majority, these were just a few, and probably meant as jokes.
He knew. It was all nonsense. Cha Eui-jae knew it. He just had to ignore it. Normally, he would have already scoffed and brushed it off. Everyone's speculations were entirely wrong, and the reality was much harsher. I mean, Lee Sa-young split into two after sleeping for three months!
Even so, Cha Eui-jae couldn't shake the unease. And with good reason.
'Dammit…'
There was just too much hitting close to home to laugh it off…
Cha Eui-jae took out a cigarette and placed it between his lips. It was someone else's house, and indoors, so he didn't light it. He just fiddled with the unlit cigarette, chewing it out of frustration.
Anyway, throughout his life, he had seen countless articles discussing J, but this was the first time he had encountered one that attacked his psyche so deeply. Cha Eui-jae frowned as he stared at the photo saved in his gallery. The background was familiar. It was near the West Sea Rift Memorial. The photo was taken in the brief moment while he carried a tear-stained, sleeping Lee Sa-young to the van.
'It's definitely strange.'
Even if Cha Eui-jae had been preoccupied with Lee Sa-young, there was no way he wouldn't have noticed a camera or a person's presence. How on earth was this photo taken? Maybe it was the informant's ability. Cha Eui-jae looked at his hands, which had been tightly holding Lee Sa-young's back and arms, and sighed.
'…Should I have just carried him like a sack?'
It was a belated regret. But even that regret quickly dissipated. He couldn't have just slung a kid over his shoulder, especially one who was crying so much, like a broken faucet, even in his sleep. The kid was crying.
Just as Eui-jae sighed again, he sensed a presence behind him.
"…What are you doing?"
A soft voice, slightly hoarse, accompanied by the gentle touch of hair brushing against the back of his neck. The smell of dandelions wafted in. The hand that wrapped around his waist felt perfectly natural. Cha Eui-jae quickly turned off the phone screen and replied.
"Nothing."
"What were you looking at just now…"
"Nothing important."
"…"
Cha Eui-jae glanced at the reflection in the window. Lee Sa-young, looking like a well-fed lion, leaned his chin on Cha Eui-jae's shoulder, slowly blinking his drowsy eyes. A black-tipped hand reached out and gently grasped the cigarette between Cha Eui-jae's lips.
"A cigarette? And you didn't even light it…"
The tip of the cigarette began to char and dissolve. The scent of dandelions grew stronger. In a languid tone, Lee Sa-young whispered.
"Do you smoke?"
Cha Eui-jae awkwardly straightened his back.
"Yeah, kind of."
"Since when?"
"Not too long ago…"
Just before the cigarette dissolved down to the filter in his mouth, a thumb and forefinger slipped in, gently brushing against his lips. As Cha Eui-jae winced, a low chuckle reached his ears. The fingers briefly touched his tongue before pulling away. The cigarette, freed from his lips, quickly melted into a black liquid in Lee Sa-young's hand. After brushing off his hand, Lee Sa-young murmured softly.
"Quit. You need to live long."
The hand that had been wrapped around his waist slid away. Lee Sa-young yawned deeply and walked toward the bathroom. Cha Eui-jae rubbed the back of his neck unnecessarily and rolled his eyes. A system message popped up, stating that Basilisk's venom had been activated, but he dismissed it with a wave of his hand. He was standing in the living room of Lee Sa-young's home on the top floor of the Pado Guild headquarters.
Two days ago, Lee Sa-young began to break out in a cold sweat as they reached the mountainside, and as soon as they descended, he collapsed as if fainting. Naturally, not only Cha Eui-jae but also Seo Min-gi, who had been waiting in the car, were both thrown into a panic.
They debated whether to take Lee Sa-young to Nam Woo-jin or to go back up the mountain. After all, he had already been asleep for three months.
But throughout the discussion, Seo Min-gi kept glancing at Cha Eui-jae. To the point where Cha Eui-jae, unable to hold back, spoke up first.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that? Do you have something to say?"
"Oh, I was just wondering if you could give me a warning if you're going to explode."
"Explode?"
"Don't you remember? You swung me around like a rag doll. Physically, I mean."
"…"
It must have been a story from the Day of Change. Cha Eui-jae didn't remember it, but it seemed the victim, Seo Min-gi, remembered that day vividly. Cha Eui-jae awkwardly stroked Lee Sa-young's cheek.
"I won't do that anymore…"
It wasn't a particularly convincing statement. Seo Min-gi also responded with a dubious tone.
"Well… I'll take your word for it."
He didn't sound convinced at all.
Only after Seo Min-gi hid in the shadows a couple of times, and Cha Eui-jae pinched Lee Sa-young's cheeks about five times, did they finally conclude their heated discussion. The decision was to go back up the mountain. Just as Eui-jae was fumbling around, preparing to carry Lee Sa-young on his back, a strong hand grabbed his arm.
"…Let's go home."
"What?"
"Stop spouting nonsense…"
Lee Sa-young had somehow opened his eyes.
Glaring at Cha Eui-jae as if he were about to devour him, Lee Sa-young spat out each word.
"I'm just exhausted… Stop messing around… Let's just go home."
Was that his last bit of strength? As soon as he finished speaking, Lee Sa-young fainted again, his expression twisted into a deep frown. It was probably all the strength he had left.
Cha Eui-jae awkwardly smoothed out the furrowed brow of the unconscious Lee Sa-young and gave Seo Min-gi a signal with his eyes.
And so, they took Lee Sa-young back home…
Since then, Cha Eui-jae hadn't been able to leave the house. For two days.
"…"
How did it come to this? Cha Eui-jae retraced his memories. It's not like he hadn't tried to escape the house. But whenever he tried to sneak out, Lee Sa-young would always find him like a ghost.
Cha Eui-jae glanced at the bathroom before putting on his mask. He was just about to tiptoe to the front door and grab the doorknob when it happened.
"Hyung."
A voice came from beyond the door. Just like now.
'Fuck, does he have a radar or something?'
Cha Eui-jae slightly removed his mask and responded.
"Y-Yeah?"
"Since Bae Won-woo is coming over, keep your mask on."
"W-Why is Bae Won-woo coming? For what?"
"Isn't it obvious? Something must have happened."
Was he drying his hair? There was the sound of a towel rustling against wet hair. At that moment, Cha Eui-jae's instincts started working against his will. Something that would bring Bae Won-woo directly to the house. What flashed through his mind… was the article headline.
[The Secret Relationship Between No. 1 and No. 2]
Cha Eui-jae adjusted his mask. Alright, I'll make my escape now. I'll hide out in a dungeon until things calm down. With that decision, Cha Eui-jae flung open the door. And he found himself face-to-face with a figure blocking the door like a bear.
"…"
'Shit.'
It was Bae Won-woo, who had grown gaunt since they last met. He looked around like a zombie, then smiled viciously when he saw J.
"Uhhh…? Oh, J!"
'Fuck.'
"You sensed I was coming and opened the door for me, huh? I didn't even ring the bell. Wow, I can't compete with that. Sa-young's inside, right?"
'No.'
The sound of wet footsteps approached from behind. Lee Sa-young was walking up, tying the belt of his bathrobe. He stood right behind Cha Eui-jae, raising an eyebrow.
"What… You're here already? How long has it even been since I called?"
"I had no choice. This is a bit urgent."
The scent of dandelions mixed with a fragrant aroma filled the air. Lee Sa-young draped his arm over Cha Eui-jae's shoulder, pulling him close. Why did that arm feel like a shackle today?
Bae Won-woo was holding a newspaper. Even at a glance, the words "No. 1" and "No. 2" were visible. Bae Won-woo, still smiling amiably, stepped into the entryway.
"Oh, right. J, you heard the news from Seo Min-gi, right?"
Before Cha Eui-jae could respond, Lee Sa-young cut in.
"What news?"
"Oh… It's nothing much. Just that a picture of J carrying you bridal-style made it into the news."
"…What?"
Narrowing his eyes, Lee Sa-young took the newspaper from him. Cha Eui-jae glanced at Lee Sa-young. As his violet eyes scanned the newspaper, his freshly showered, flushed lips curled into a neat smile. The violet eyes followed suit, narrowing into thin lines.
"Hmm…"
"…"
Lee Sa-young's still-damp toes lightly tapped Cha Eui-jae's heel. Cha Eui-jae flinched. Their protruding ankle bones brushed against each other. A voice full of amusement murmured.
"I didn't know you carried me like that?"